Long Time EP Educator, Sports Official Dies

Charles “Chuck” Vermette, a long-time teacher, coach, administrator and local youth umpire and referee died in late October.  Vermette was a 1954 graduate of LaSalle Academy but considered a Townie by all who knew him.  In high school he was an honors student-athlete and went on to graduate from Providence College and Northeastern University. 

Vermette, an honorary inductee in the East Providence High School Hall of Fame, was a Math Department Chairman at Riverside Junior High where he coached a state championship baseball team.  He also coached football at RJHS.  He was Assistant Principal at Riverside and was also an Assistant Principal at East Providence High School in charge of discipline and attendance.

For decades, he officiated baseball, softball, football, track meets and CYO ball.  Chuck, as he was widely known, was a member of the International Association of High School Officials and the Rhode Island Baseball Umpires Association.  He also served as an adult advisor to CYO and city little leagues.

He was a recipient of the national CYO ‘Eagle of the Cross Award’ and the East Bay Region CYO “Man of the Year.”  He was also elected to the R.I. Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.  Each year since 1986, a male and female athlete of the year award has been given in his name to students at Riverside Junior/Middle School.

Ralph Fascitelli, is a former student athlete at RJHS and EPHS who went on to graduate from Yale University.  Fascitelli excelled in the classroom and sports and remembers his teacher Chuck Vermette fondly.  Now living in California, Fascitelli writes that “Chuck Vermette may have been the most admired and loved person in Riverside and EP over the past fifty years. He taught me the all-important life lesson of not being willing to "trade approval for authenticity." I had just made the Jr. high baseball team in 7th grade at RJH and threw out a cuss word that I didn't even know the meaning of to impress the upper classmen on the team. Chuck called me out and "took me to school" on my sloppy language and the mere fact of disappointing him was enough for me to clean up my act. Thanks, Coach, for being you!”

Former Lt. Col. of the RI State Police, Ray Studley said of Chuck, "He was one of the staples of this community for a very long time. He shaped a generation of children, I among them. A very sad day for East Providence."  Rest in Peace Mr. Vermette. You did good work here on earth sir. Thank you.”  Many in East Providence would agree.